ABRI committed to fundamental reform

ABRI committed to fundamental reform

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) announced yesterday it
is committed to reform, calling it "the answer" to all crises
affecting the country.

ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono said fundamental reform should be the agenda of the new
government, which is now striving to restore the country's
economy and to regain the confidence of the general public.

"ABRI feels that fundamental reform is the answer to all
crises which have hit the country," he told reporters at the
Armed Forces' Cilangkap headquarters in East Jakarta.

"ABRI is aware of the fundamental weakness and ... violations
of procedures involving all sectors and elements in society," he
said.

He said reform would only succeed with strong backing from the
government. "Otherwise, 'reform' will simply become a word with
no meaning," Susilo said.

He added that a program of reforms would need a careful and
thorough plan of action. What sort of reforms are required by the
nation must be definitely spelt out, he added.

"The most important prerequisite to reform is ... efficient
and capable national leadership. I'd like to stress (the
importance) of state leadership because it is of paramount
importance to the campaign for reform," he said.

Speaking about the promised political reform, Susilo said
political organizations could not be established overnight.

"We need to learn from history (about the difficulties) when
the nation had many political parties contesting general
elections and participating in the cabinet and parliament," he
said.

In 1973, the number of legal political organizations were
reduced to three -- Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP)
and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

He also urged caution in answering demands for a review of the
five political laws, arguing that a national consensus was needed
before the country could restructure its political system or
limit its presidential term.

There have been increasing demands for revisions to the Law on
Mass Organizations, the Law on the Position and the Structure of
the Parliament (DPR) and the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR), the Law on Political Parties and Functional Group
(Golkar), the Law on Referenda, and the Law on General Elections.

On the economic crisis affecting the country, Susilo suggested
that the campaign for reform should be waged without threatening
political stability.

He said that efforts to bring normality to the state's
economic and political affairs should be followed with efforts to
regain the confidence of the general public.

"How can the government take necessary measures to end the
crisis and comply with demands for reform without the people's
trust?" he asked.

He said all elements in society should actively help the poor,
who have been the worst affected by the economic crisis.

"We are in a very difficult economic condition with increasing
unemployment and many people are very badly affected by the
crisis.

"All of us should, therefore, help those with low incomes to
meet their basic needs," he said.

Reconciliation

In a related development, Minister of Defense and
Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto briefed
10,000 low, middle and high-ranking soldiers from the Jakarta
garrison at Istora Senayan sports stadium in Central Jakarta last
night.

In his address, Wiranto called on soldiers to reestablish good
relations with students and persuade them to join in the
development program.

Wiranto cited a gulf between students' and the Armed Forces'
visions of reform and how it should be brought about.

"Let's enter the campus and apologize to all of the students
for all that has happened to their friends. Let them know that we
share their views about reform.

"Let's involve them in discussions on the concept of reform,"
he said.

Present at the briefing were Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo, Navy Chief Admiral Arief Kushariadi, Air Force Chief
Marshal Sutria Tubagus, and National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo
Widodo.

Also present were Governor of the National Resilience
Institute (Lemhanas) Lt. Gen. Agum Gumelar, Commander of the
Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Maj. Gen. Djamari
Chaniago, Jakarta garrison commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin and Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata.

In a 60-minute speech, Wiranto also told the soldiers not to
be disconcerted by rumors aimed at ruining the unity of the Armed
Forces.

"Be careful of rumors. Certain parties spread them just for
fun, but others were really aimed at splitting ABRI unity," he
said.

He cited rumors over the sudden replacement of the Commanders
of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) and Kostrad.

"ABRI is cohesive, not divided. We have one commitment. All of
us believe in the same Sapta Marga (Soldier's Oath)," he said.
(imn/ivy)